The Complete Guide to The Stab Kick - Mae Geri - Front Kick (Pro Striking Breakdown)
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Front Leg Front Kick·Pro Striking
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Front Leg Front Kick
SubFamily滑り込み前蹴り(Surikonde Mae Geri)
TraditionalTranslation: sliding front kick
Overview
The Front Leg Front Kick is a fast front kick delivered with the lead leg by sliding the rear foot forward to close distance before launching the kick. [1] The rear leg slides forward without moving the upper body to avoid telegraphing, creating a momentary crossed-leg position before the formerly front leg chambers and kicks. [1] This technique emphasizes speed over power — the reduced distance traveled means less hip rotation but a faster delivery that catches opponents before they can react. [1] It can function as a stop-kick against advancing opponents or as a range-closer when combined with offensive combinations. [1]
Surikonde Mae GeriJPOigeriOkurigeriAhp-bal Ahp-ChagiKRJun GeriJPLead Leg Front KickSliding Front Kick
History & Origin
The front leg front kick is practiced across multiple karate styles and taekwondo under various names. In Shotokan karate it is called surikonde mae geri (sliding front kick), while Shorinji-ryu kenkokan uses the terms oigeri and okurigeri. [1] Taekwondo refers to it as ahp-bal ahp-chagi, and Sankukai karate and Shorinji kempo use the term jun geri. [1]
Effectiveness
The front leg front kick sacrifices power for speed and surprise. [1] It is particularly effective as a range-management tool to maintain distance or as a stop-kick against aggressive opponents. In MMA, the lead leg front kick to the body (teep) is one of the most frequently used techniques for distance control. [1]
Lineage
Practiced across karate (surikonde mae geri), Taekwondo, and Muay Thai (teep). Documented in De Bremaeker & Faige (2010). [1]
Competition Record
Frequently used in MMA (UFC, ONE Championship, Bellator), kickboxing (GLORY, K-1), and Muay Thai (Lumpinee, Rajadamnern). One of the most commonly thrown kicks in professional striking competition. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Rear foot slides forward to close distance while maintaining upright posture — lead leg then chambers and extends
Joints Involved — Hip flexion (chambering), knee extension (kick delivery), ankle plantarflexion (impact surface)
Force Vector — Forward and slightly upward — reduced hip rotation compared to rear leg version
Striking Surface — Ball of foot (penetrating) or instep (snapping)
Position & Entry
From fighting stance — Slide rear foot toward lead foot, then chamber and kick with the former front leg
As a stop-kick — Execute stationary without the slide when opponent advances into range
Variants
Static stop-kick — delivered without sliding to halt an advancing opponent
Penetrating version — ball of foot driven through the target
Upward version — instep snaps upward to chin or groin
Combined with shoot — front kick stops opponent, followed by double-leg takedown entry
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
4
Moderate4/10
Less power than rear leg version but faster delivery. Low risk of serious injury in sport contexts.
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Beginner
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Unified MMA— standard striking technique
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDFWKF Karate— controlled contact required
WKF Kumite Rules 2026PDFWT Taekwondo— kicks are primary scoring technique
WT Competition Rules 2026PDFWAKO Kickboxing— full contact permitted
WAKO Full Contact RulesPDFIFMA Muay Thai— all strikes permitted
IFMA Muay Thai RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓Slide the rear foot forward WITHOUT moving the upper body — this is critical to avoid telegraphing
✓Keep the slide short and quick — long slides are slow and obvious
✓Chamber the knee high after the slide before extending
✓Can be drilled as a distance-management tool in sparring
Common Mistakes
!Moving the upper body forward during the slide, telegraphing the kick
!Taking too long a slide, giving the opponent time to react
!Not chambering the knee high enough after the slide
!Leaning back excessively during the kick, reducing power further
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Jab-cross combination to occupy hands → slide forward and front kick to body
2Feint jab → front leg front kick to face
3As counter — opponent advances, stop-kick to solar plexus
Sources & References
Primary Source
De Bremaeker, M. & Faige, R. (2010). Essential Book of Martial Arts Kicks. Tuttle Publishing.
1BookDe Bremaeker, M. & Faige, R. (2010). Essential Book of Martial Arts Kicks. Tuttle Publishing.pp. pp. 21-22
[1] De Bremaeker & Faige, Essential Book of Martial Arts Kicks (2010), Section 1.4, pp. 21-22
Official karate technique names (和語/漢語)
3OtherJapanese Martial Arts Standard Terminology (武道用語)
Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)
4CitationDe Bremaeker, M. & Faige, R. (2010). Essential Book of Martial Arts Kicks. Tuttle Publishing.pp. pp. 21-22
[1] De Bremaeker & Faige, Essential Book of Martial Arts Kicks (2010), Section 1.4, pp. 21-22
Community
Athletics
Requires
timing, hip flexibility for chambering
Favours
long legs for range advantage
Key muscles
hip flexors, quadriceps, core stabilizers
Frequently Asked Questions
How should I position my foot when throwing a front leg front kick?
Your toes should be pointing up and curled back to keep them in a strong position for impact. According to Pro Striking, the idea is to target the ball of the foot, so think about coming up onto your tiptoes while standing to protect your toes.
What are the best targets for a front leg front kick?
Pro Striking advises aiming for the opponent's chin, solar plexus, liver, or lower abdomen depending on the distance and positioning. The key is to select an opening based on your opponent's reactions to previous feints.
What should I do immediately after throwing the kick?
Pro Striking emphasizes that you should quickly retract your leg back to your fighting stance as fast as possible, unless you're advancing into further combinations. If kicking with your rear leg, bring it back behind you; if kicking with your lead leg, you can land forward.
Why is the front leg front kick considered a safer technique than other kicks?
According to Pro Striking, the front kick doesn't telegraph much and is difficult for the opponent to defend because it comes up in the frontal plane without hip rotation, allowing the fighter to remain more balanced than with a round kick. Even if the leg is caught, a strong hamstring can help you escape.
How does the Front Leg Front Kick work?
The Front Leg Front Kick is a fast front kick delivered with the lead leg by sliding the rear foot forward to close distance before launching the kick. The rear leg slides forward without moving the upper body to avoid telegraphing, creating a momentary crossed-leg position before the formerly front leg chambers and kicks.
Where does the Front Leg Front Kick come from?
The front leg front kick is practiced across multiple karate styles and taekwondo under various names. In Shotokan karate it is called surikonde mae geri (sliding front kick), while Shorinji-ryu kenkokan uses the terms oigeri and okurigeri.
Is the Front Leg Front Kick legal in competition?
Unified MMA: Legal: legal — standard striking technique; WKF Karate: Legal: legal — controlled contact required; WT Taekwondo: Legal: legal — kicks are primary scoring technique; WAKO Kickboxing: Legal: legal — full contact permitted; IFMA Muay Thai: Legal: legal — all strikes permitted
How dangerous is the Front Leg Front Kick?
Danger rating 4/10. Moderate — less power than rear leg version but faster delivery. Low risk of serious injury in sport contexts.
How do I set up the Front Leg Front Kick?
The standard setup chain: Jab-cross combination to occupy hands → slide forward and front kick to body → Feint jab → front leg front kick to face → As counter.
How do I defend against the Front Leg Front Kick?
Standard counters include: Side step — move laterally to avoid the linear kick / Catch and sweep — catch the kicking leg and sweep the standing leg / Low kick counter — attack the standing leg as the kick is launched.
What are the variants of the Front Leg Front Kick?
Common variants: Static stop-kick (delivered without sliding to halt an advancing opponent); Penetrating version (ball of foot driven through the target); Upward version (instep snaps upward to chin or groin); Combined with shoot (front kick stops opponent, followed by double-leg takedow…).
How effective is the Front Leg Front Kick in competition?
Frequently used in MMA (UFC, ONE Championship, Bellator), kickboxing (GLORY, K-1), and Muay Thai (Lumpinee, Rajadamnern). One of the most commonly thrown kicks in professional striking competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Front Leg Front Kick?
Top errors to watch for: Moving the upper body forward during the slide, telegraphing the kick / Taking too long a slide, giving the opponent time to react / Not chambering the knee high enough after the slide / Leaning back excessively during the kick, reducing power further.
What are other names for the Front Leg Front Kick?
The Front Leg Front Kick is also known as Surikonde Mae Geri, Oigeri, Okurigeri, Ahp-bal Ahp-Chagi, Jun Geri.